Or a Pear! I first shared this Christmas Stocking tutorial back in 2016, it had another outing as part of an Advent sew-along with the Moda Bakeshop and then I reworked it a third time as part of the Twelve Days of Christmas block of the month, adorned with the pear motif from the Partridge block.
Last weekend I made a start on sorting through my Christmas quilts, readying the wrapping paper and organising ribbon supplies - I really must get around to buying something to wrap! - and I realised I hadn't shared the new version here. So, as long as you're not planning to buy your true love the 364 gifts listed in the song, you can parcel up something smaller in a hand made stocking...
To make one Christmas stocking you will need...
1 3½" x 4½" piece and 1 2½" square of pear fabric
1 1½" x 2½" piece of leaf fabric
½ yd fabric for the outer
½ yd lining fabric
2 8½" x 18½" pieces of fusible batting
4½" piece of ribbon (for the hanger)
Stocking Foot template, which you can download here
Washable pen/chalk pencil to draw around the template
To prepare the template you will need to add the 'leg' of the stocking to the 'foot' - as shown on the template - by cutting a 7" x 11½" rectangle from A4 paper, then sticky-taping the two pieces together. I folded over the top of my template by ½" when I cut my outer back piece.
DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE TUTORIAL HERE
Cutting...
1. From the outer fabric cut as shown, below:-
{The diagram also shows the background pieces for the Pear block are cut from the same piece of fabric}
2. From the lining fabric cut as shown, below:-
Please read through the pattern before you begin. Fabric is always placed rights-sides-together and joined with a ¼” seam allowance unless otherwise noted.
Piecing the Pear...
3. To make the bottom of the pear, mark a diagonal line on the back of 4 1½" outer squares and pin, right sides together, to each corner of the 3½" x 4½" pear piece. Stitch on the line - to snowball the corner - flip the square 'open' and press the seams towards the pear, trimming away the back layers.
4. Snowball the top left-hand corner of the 2½" pear square with a 1½" outer square. Then join the 1½" x 2 ½" leaf piece to the top, pressing towards the green.
Next, join a 1½" x 3½" outer piece to each side, pressing towards the outer, before joining the two halves of the pear, pressing the seam open.
Preparing the front of the stocking...
5. Join a 1¾" x 6½" outer piece to each side of your Christmas Tree block, pressing away from the tree; then join the 3½" x 7" outer piece to the top and the outer 'foot' to the bottom, again, pressing away from the tree.
6. Trim you fusible batting to size and fuse to the wrong side of the stocking front and quilt as desired. I chose to outline my pear, then add a simple crosshatch design to the background. Quilt the stocking back in the same way.
Assembling the Stocking...
7. Lay the quilted back outer, right sides up, and position the piece of ribbon - folded in half - ½" away from the edge, as shown. Pin or glue baste in place.
8. Join the lining pieces to the top of the matching outer pieces, pressing towards the lining.
9. Lay out the front and back pieces, right sides together, and pin together, marking a 6" opening in the lining.
10. Sew around the edge, starting and finishing at the opening with a few back-stitches. Clip the corners and make little cuts in to the seam allowance around any curves - taking care not to snip through your stitching - then turn right sides out.
11. Press lightly and slip-stitch or machine-stitch the opening closed and gently push the lining into the outer stocking.
12. Press around the top - your lining should be peeking above the edge - then top-stitch.
13. Fill with treats - no live birds, please - and gift to your true love...
As I was sorting through the Christmas cupboard I realised I've amassed quite the collection of handmade cushions, gift bags, decorations and stockings over the years, so in my next post I'm going to revisit Christmasses past and share some small projects that will bring a handmade touch to your gitfing this year,
Break out the sherry,
Nicola xx